Abstract

Samples were collected monthly from coastal water around Tongyeong and Sacheon in Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, using traps. A total of 748 Octopus vulgaris were sampled from February 2007 to January 2008. Monthly changes of maturity stages and sex ratio of the common octopus were observed. Mean biomass (total wet weight) of the female specimens ranged from 129.8 to 3,381.4 g and that of the male specimens ranged from 128.6 and 2,378.4 g. The spawning periods were May to June and September. The fecundity ranged from 5,715 eggs at 252.0 g to 240,990 eggs at 3,381.4 g of total wet weight. The relationship between total wet weight (TW) and fecundity (F) was F = 26.539 $TW^{1.1548}$ ($r^2=0.8199$) and fecundity increased with total wet weight. Sex ratio was not significantly different from the 1:1 (p > 0.05).